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| Miller with his Mad Max star Tom Hardy at last year’s Cannes Film Festival Photo: Richard Mowe |
Mad Max creator and director George Miller will be the president of the Cannes Film Festival jury, it was announced today by the Festival organisers.
The Australian director’s opus Mad Max Fury Road was shown out of competition at last year’s 68th edition which started it on a global career earning both BAFTA and Oscar nominations.
Miller, who emerged in what has been described as “the golden age of Australian cinema” in the 1980s alongside the likes of Peter Weir, Bruce Beresford and Phillip Noyce, said of his appointment "What an unmitigated delight! To be there in the middle of this storied festival at the unveiling of cinematic treasures from all over the planet. To spend time in passionate discourse with fellow members of the jury. Such an honour. I'll be there with bells on!”
Meanwhile a rumour about the possible departure of Thierry Frémaux as artistic director of the Cannes Film Festival has circulated in the trade magazine Le film français. Their source suggests that Frémaux has been offered a significant post int he private sector. Frémaux declined to categorically deny the rumour although Cannes President Pierre Lescure did refute any imminent departure for Frémaux, who has been with the Festival since 2001 and in the current position since 2007. He is also director of the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, devoted to restored works of classic cinema.
Miller and his jury will award the coveted Palme d’Or and other prizes.
The Festival runs from 11 to 22 May.
